Prince William and Kate joined by close family and friends for Prince George’s christening

Prince George was the star of the show as he arrived in his father’s arms outside the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace on Wednesday afternoon.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked on with pride as they were welcomed by the Archbishop of Canterbury outside the Chapel minutes before the service was due to begin.

Prince George arrives for his christening at St James’s Palace. (Photo: Reuters Live Stream)

William and Kate were joined by senior members of the Royal Family including The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Grandfather Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry were all in high spirits as they arrived smiling and doting on the family’s latest addition, Prince George.

As the crowds cheered outside the Palace, inside the walls it was the first time since Prince George’s birth that The Queen and the future three heirs had all been pictured together.

The new parents chose the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace as they wanted to keep the christening a “small intimate affair”.

It is also significant to the couple as it where William’s mother Diana laid in rest before her funeral in 1997 and also where Kate chose to be confirmed into the Church of England before the royal wedding in 2011.

Three-month-old George was dressed in the replica Honiton lace gown and appeared to give his second royal wave as Prince William held him before the service.

The Queen is greeted by the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry outside the Chapel Royal. (Photo: Reuters Live Stream).

The third-in-line, who will one day become King, was on his best behaviour as he arrived outside the Chapel for his special day.

“He went in smiling, came out smiling and, as far as we are aware, smiled throughout,” a royal insider told the Mail Online.

Although Prince William did admit: “It’s the first time he’s been quiet all day.”

The service finished earlier than expected, and as the 23 guests left, which also included their part-time nanny, Jessie Webb, the Duchess carried her son out of the Chapel.

After this, guests headed to Clarence House where they were treated to afternoon tea by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Guests, including close family and the seven godparents with their spouses, dined on slices of George’s christening cake, which is one of the tiers from William and Kate’s wedding cake.

Prince George was on his best behaviour as he arrived for his big day. (Photo: BBC News Video)

While at Clarence House, the official portraits were taken by Hollywood photographer Jason Bell.

Although the christening was a private affair, official portraits will be released on Thursday for the world to see.

Speaking ahead of the christening, Jason, who has shot actresses Kate Winslet and Nicole Kidman, revealed he was thrilled to be taking the historic images.

“I’m honoured that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to photograph the christening of their son Prince George,” the photographer said in a statement. “I’m privileged to be recording this moment in history.”

There has been a lot of anticipation surrounding the official photos as it will be the first time in over a hundred years that a monarch and three heirs to the throne have been pictured together.

The last occasion that this happened was in 1894 when Queen Victoria was photographed with her son Edward VII, grandson George V and great-grandson Edward VIII.